Consultation to Revise Regulation on Working Hours Law

Consultation to Revise Regulation on Working Hours Law

On 29 September 2017, the Swiss Federal Council commenced a consultation on revising the Regulation on the Working Hours Law. The Law governing employment relations in public transport companies was passed by the Parliament in the summer of 2016. Both decrees will enter into force on 9 December 2018.

The Parliament had partially revised the Working Hours Law (AZG) in 2016. Based on it, the Regulation on the Working Hours Law (AZGV) must be adjusted as well. The principles of the present revision draft have been prepared by a tripartite commission comprised of companies’ and employees’ representatives as well as a delegation of the Federal Office of Transport (BAV). According to the Federal Council, the main points of the revision are as follows:

Flexibility of provisions on working hours and rest time, taking into account the protection of employees.

Adaptation and reintroduction of exemptions for certain sectors.

New regulations for retirement days and compensation days as well as for breaks.

The consultation will last until 12 December 2017. The totally revived Law is to enter into force together with the partially revised law on timetable changes on 9 December 2018. Some of the amended provisions of the Working Hours Law were enacted before time on 2 June 2017. As of the beginning of 2018, the administrative staff will no longer be subject to the Working Hours Law.